Author's Note: Please find it somewhere deep deep deep in your kind hearts
to review my story. Or I will have to hypnotize you and review for you to
boost my ego.
The Four Points Part 3
Eriya was once again under the tree on the large bed of moss, but her book had changed and so had she, as it had been about four years since that day when she had heard of the birth of Yuri, Fanelia's heir. Folken was attending to his royal duties which were always horribly boring and Naria had her hands full (and then some) attending to her motherly duties. The twins were almost four now, talking and walking, and getting into all kinds of messes. They were noisy, frequently annoying, and every moment spent with them was a painful reminder of her lack of children.
Naria had all the luck in the family, it seemed. Folken and Naria were both positive that she was capable of having children, she simply hadn't yet. But why not? If I'm capable why haven't I? Eriya perked up her ears as she heard something approaching her from behind. She sniffed the air, while staying in exactly the position she had been, appearing relaxed so as not to give away her awareness. Then she identified her would be attacker by smell and the sides of her mouth curved upward marginally in a slight smile. She waited for her attacker to come to her.
Suddenly, she felt little pinpricks in her shoulder. "Got-"
Eriya put her arm behind her got hold and pulled. A little body went flying over her shoulder and landed in a tangle of furry body parts. She eyed her niece Kali with a stern look for a moment before chuckling and getting to her feet.
"You were saying?"
"Aw, Aunt Eriya I was jus' playin'," Kali said and giggled, folding her hands behind her back and smiling winningly.
"Where's your mother?" Eriya said getting down to business the way she usually did when talking to the twins, especially Kali, the more playful of the two.
"She told me to tell you to come back to the castle," Kali said in an important sounding tone, then she giggled again. She was obviously enjoying this chance to get out of the castle and away from her lessons, and her mother's helpers. Naria taught her children herself mostly but often she had other things to attend to and then her "helpers" took over. Kali and her brother Kole (pronounced like coal) disliked the helpers because they made them sit still and learn things like proper speech.
Eriya was not alarmed by this message due to the child's happy mood and the fact that this sort of thing happened all the time. Naria could have sent for her simply to have Eriya's presence nearer to her. The tree Eriya had chosen, as her special hide away was a fair distance from the castle, to prevent her from being disturbed. As a matter of fact it was a fairly long way for a three year old to travel without side tracking.
"How long ago was that?" Eriya asked, in a light tone, as if only curious.
Kali put her finger in her mouth, and screwed up her face, making an elaborate show of thinking. If there was one thing to be said about Kali, it was her ability to make people believe she was stupider than she was. Of course Eriya was not fooled by anything Kali did.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuumm. recently?" Kali replied evasively, putting her hands behind her back again, cutely. Eriya wasn't impressed.
"How recently?"
Kali shrugged and started skipping back to the castle, preventing Eriya from continuing the interrogation (Eriya was not very disappointed at that seeing as she couldn't get a real answer out of the child).
About 15 minutes later she pushed open a little known door that led into a small hallway. This was one of those doors that the architects would have been better off leaving out. It was one of those doors that few knew about and even fewer used. As far as Eriya could smell, no one besides herself had used the door for several months. Eriya preferred to slip in and out quietly rather than having people force open the huge castle doors for just two people.
The end of her train of thought found her at the entrance to Folken's study, where she sensed her sister's presence. She became slightly confused. The study was where most of the important business was discussed. It was unlikely that Naria would go there to discuss something unimportant or private. She took a breath and opened the door hoping what her sister had called her for wasn't bad news.
The scene that greeted her was not reassuring. Five grim faces looked up from their private worlds as she entered the room, Eriya's face turning ashen as she looked for any sign of reassurance on any face and found none. She hardened herself and let go of her false hopes.
* * *
Kole walked through the hallways, trying to slink and walk only in shadows. He was positive that he was doing well since he had managed to slip away from his helpers and no one had seen him since then. He wasn't quite sure where he was going but he knew that something fishy was going and it required some one smart like him to figure it out. He had to show his sister that he wasn't a stupid whimp, like she always said.
He was following the shadow lady with the bright red shoes. He knew she must be the source of the fishiness and he would find out what she was up to. She was traveling in little bursts always around the next corner or down the next corridor flitting out of sight just in time for him to get a small glimpse of her, the only he saw was her shoes.
He no longer recognized where he was going but he wasn't afraid; the shadow lady was his only concern. Kole didn't stop to consider that he didn't know where he was. He didn't stop to consider that it wasn't a good idea to chase people who were "fishy". He didn't stop to consider that no one was around, no one to hear him scream, and he didn't stop to consider that he may never see his family again.
The Four Points Part 3
Eriya was once again under the tree on the large bed of moss, but her book had changed and so had she, as it had been about four years since that day when she had heard of the birth of Yuri, Fanelia's heir. Folken was attending to his royal duties which were always horribly boring and Naria had her hands full (and then some) attending to her motherly duties. The twins were almost four now, talking and walking, and getting into all kinds of messes. They were noisy, frequently annoying, and every moment spent with them was a painful reminder of her lack of children.
Naria had all the luck in the family, it seemed. Folken and Naria were both positive that she was capable of having children, she simply hadn't yet. But why not? If I'm capable why haven't I? Eriya perked up her ears as she heard something approaching her from behind. She sniffed the air, while staying in exactly the position she had been, appearing relaxed so as not to give away her awareness. Then she identified her would be attacker by smell and the sides of her mouth curved upward marginally in a slight smile. She waited for her attacker to come to her.
Suddenly, she felt little pinpricks in her shoulder. "Got-"
Eriya put her arm behind her got hold and pulled. A little body went flying over her shoulder and landed in a tangle of furry body parts. She eyed her niece Kali with a stern look for a moment before chuckling and getting to her feet.
"You were saying?"
"Aw, Aunt Eriya I was jus' playin'," Kali said and giggled, folding her hands behind her back and smiling winningly.
"Where's your mother?" Eriya said getting down to business the way she usually did when talking to the twins, especially Kali, the more playful of the two.
"She told me to tell you to come back to the castle," Kali said in an important sounding tone, then she giggled again. She was obviously enjoying this chance to get out of the castle and away from her lessons, and her mother's helpers. Naria taught her children herself mostly but often she had other things to attend to and then her "helpers" took over. Kali and her brother Kole (pronounced like coal) disliked the helpers because they made them sit still and learn things like proper speech.
Eriya was not alarmed by this message due to the child's happy mood and the fact that this sort of thing happened all the time. Naria could have sent for her simply to have Eriya's presence nearer to her. The tree Eriya had chosen, as her special hide away was a fair distance from the castle, to prevent her from being disturbed. As a matter of fact it was a fairly long way for a three year old to travel without side tracking.
"How long ago was that?" Eriya asked, in a light tone, as if only curious.
Kali put her finger in her mouth, and screwed up her face, making an elaborate show of thinking. If there was one thing to be said about Kali, it was her ability to make people believe she was stupider than she was. Of course Eriya was not fooled by anything Kali did.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuumm. recently?" Kali replied evasively, putting her hands behind her back again, cutely. Eriya wasn't impressed.
"How recently?"
Kali shrugged and started skipping back to the castle, preventing Eriya from continuing the interrogation (Eriya was not very disappointed at that seeing as she couldn't get a real answer out of the child).
About 15 minutes later she pushed open a little known door that led into a small hallway. This was one of those doors that the architects would have been better off leaving out. It was one of those doors that few knew about and even fewer used. As far as Eriya could smell, no one besides herself had used the door for several months. Eriya preferred to slip in and out quietly rather than having people force open the huge castle doors for just two people.
The end of her train of thought found her at the entrance to Folken's study, where she sensed her sister's presence. She became slightly confused. The study was where most of the important business was discussed. It was unlikely that Naria would go there to discuss something unimportant or private. She took a breath and opened the door hoping what her sister had called her for wasn't bad news.
The scene that greeted her was not reassuring. Five grim faces looked up from their private worlds as she entered the room, Eriya's face turning ashen as she looked for any sign of reassurance on any face and found none. She hardened herself and let go of her false hopes.
* * *
Kole walked through the hallways, trying to slink and walk only in shadows. He was positive that he was doing well since he had managed to slip away from his helpers and no one had seen him since then. He wasn't quite sure where he was going but he knew that something fishy was going and it required some one smart like him to figure it out. He had to show his sister that he wasn't a stupid whimp, like she always said.
He was following the shadow lady with the bright red shoes. He knew she must be the source of the fishiness and he would find out what she was up to. She was traveling in little bursts always around the next corner or down the next corridor flitting out of sight just in time for him to get a small glimpse of her, the only he saw was her shoes.
He no longer recognized where he was going but he wasn't afraid; the shadow lady was his only concern. Kole didn't stop to consider that he didn't know where he was. He didn't stop to consider that it wasn't a good idea to chase people who were "fishy". He didn't stop to consider that no one was around, no one to hear him scream, and he didn't stop to consider that he may never see his family again.